National Republican., 1887-02-01
"The Greatest Crime"

A few days ago, as already noted In these
columns, number of respectable white citi-
zens Of Texas came TO Congress with memo
rial saying that for daring to vote and organ
ize against the Democratic party they had
been driven from their homes under threats
Of death, and that score or so Of their col
ored fellow citizens for the same offense had
been killed. Mr.. Hawley presented this petit
ton In the Senate, and on Wednesday last
1t came before that body on a motion TO in-
vestigate, which was decided in the aflirma-
tive by party vote. Mr.. Hawley's news
paper, the Hartford COurdHt, q high toned,
conservative, and ably conducted journal,
says Of the discussion In the Senate on this
occasion that 1t Twas dscouraging, because
it shows that the members Of one great party
are either too prejudiced to believe dis
agreeable truth or that they regard politi
cal crimes as Of no moment. We shall, with
out doubt, find the same southern editors
who, few days ago, were praising Senator
Hoar for his sympathetic words for Charles
ton, denouncing him as Of yore, because he
still believes In the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence and will not be silent when his
fellow men are murdered or exiled solely
because they claim the right to vote as they
please"
1t is the habit of the Democratic press.
north and south, to fling ugly epithets at
all who protest against "the Mississippi
plan," and the numerous improvements
thereon, by which the minority holds power
in numerous states as well as in Congress
ha 1an otff &c No, ttnr
how kindly the heart Of public man, no
matter how broad his views, how liberal his
votes on other questions, let him but inti-
mate opposition to policy that has Vita
ted the national government and he be-
| comes the target for unstinted and william
GUS abuse in which the 'doughfacen Dem
ocrats and mendacious Mugwumps Of the
north manage to get ahead of southern
competitors. The CotVam says:
It has become the custom of late for nearly
| all Republican journals to ignore the political
situation in large part OF the south. 1t has
| become an old story, the people were weary of
| it, many doubtless looking upon The stories as
sensational, and many more not caring to lis
| ten 10 disagreeable matter the repetition of
| which did no apparent good. But no wrong
|
| by which the Republican vote, or the anti
| Bourbon vote, of half the southern states is
suppressed or nullifed is to-day the greatest
crime that finds shelter under the stars ana
| stripes.
We may add that It is a crime so great
that it and the republic cannot long CO.
exist. Either this cancer must be cut out
| by the roots or it will destroy our govern
| ment. 1t is because we feel and know the
awf III gravity of the situation that we will
not "ignore" it, but will continue to cry
cut against 1t, quite as much in the interest
of the south as of the north. The Couant
concludes its timely article thus
Our brethren of the south aud of the Demo-
cratic party a few years ago thought that the
man who said a word against the institution
Of slavery was altogether wicked and wrolg-
minded. They entertain to-day a similar
opinion of those who believe that the republic
is free only in name 50 long as there remains
any locality where the law-abiding citizen is
not at liberty to cast his vote as he sees it,
and TO have that vote honestly counted. The
time will come when they will admit that
their present position is as mistaken as their
old one was.